Islamic State militant gets life in U.S. prison over killing of American hostages

Members of the media gather outside of the Federal Courthouse as they wait for statements following the sentencing of El Shafee Elsheikh, a former British citizen and IS fighter, in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S., August 19, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Reuters) -A U.S. federal judge on Friday sentenced a member of an Islamic State cell known as "The Beatles" to life in prison for involvement in a hostage-taking plot that led to the killings of American journalists and aid workers in Syria.

Families and friends of the four Americans killed and of other hostages previously detained by the militant group looked on as District Court Judge T.S. Ellis sentenced El Shafee Elsheikh, 34, to life without parole, calling his behavior "horrific, barbaric, brutal and of course criminal."